Homemade Games

I want to share with you Lucas' homemade game first. I think it's very impressive. It's like a homemade game of Risk. The idea is that two players each have an army. The large figures are 4,000 soilders and the little figures are 3,000. You roll the die to see how you move. If you roll a 1 or 2 you get to invade another country with up to 4,000 men. If you roll a 3 or 4 you get to place a small figure on a country. If you roll a 5 or 6 you get to place a large figure on country. You win by taking over all the countries. Even if you have men in each country and so does your opponet, the army with the most men in each country wins. Lots of math.

It took a couple times of playing with him to understand. But now I've got it. I think that's pretty cool. I am very impressed and proud of him. OK. That's just obvious. 

I also have been making two games. I have some really pretty box elder wood that I want to work with. And I wanted to make "board" games.... hee hee, get it? One for Tobin. An ocean scuba game where lego scuba divers (boys idea) take turns rolling the die to see who will be first to observe the cuttlefish in his natural habitat. The ocean creatures along the way are where you observe nature and skip a turn. Of course he loves it! And it was for his birthday, but that's too far away. 

I also made a dragon game. The idea was to sell this at etsy, but Lucas pirated it. The idea of the game is to be the first one to get to the princess that the yellow dragon is keeping hostage. Then take her to the end of the game. If someone passes you they get to take her. Also the fairy spots on the game are where you skip a turn because the fairies have enchanted you. Again the knights are the playing pieces and are made of lego figures :) They may be plastic, but I really like the legos!!

The boards are made of box elder and I wood burned the squares. Then I painted the games with stockmar watercolors. A fabulous idea! They soaked right into the wood like a stain and these boards are so pretty. I had no idea what would happen, but like all ideas I had to get it out of my head and into the world. Try it out. And then after seeing what happened with the paint and how beautiful it looks I am gonna have to make some fun puzzles!!! 

One of my favorite forms of math is board games. All kinds! Lucas digs card games right now. Not only is there instruction in math but all kinds of learning while having fun. What are some of your favorite board games? 

Comments

[PisecoMom]

Ooh! Yes, I agree that those watercolors look gorgeous on the board like that.

We are HUGE board game lovers - we love kids' games from Ravensburger and Family Pastimes as well as more grown-up games like Settlers of Catan.

And we're homeschoolers too, so I also love the benefits of using a game to learn!

[Lorilee]

Thanks ladies!!! I do think it's AWESOME that the boys have a mommy that makes awesome toys! I can't wait to see where this all goes and that I will be really good at it by the time I have some grand babies to spoil. :)

Farida I didn't know your husband made games!! How cool! A good friend of mine has a hubby that designed the Superplexus! It's so neat! And genius...
http://www.santarosa.edu/~mmcginni/myart/invention/superplexus/

[Saints and Spinners]

I've forwarded this post on to my husband, who's a game-designer. I think he will be quite pleased!

[Nicole]

Wow! The boards are gorgeous! I love the color in the diving game! What an inspiration our children are and how inspiring that yours are seeing you make these wonderful toys!!

[carlylennox]

I love the way you both are doing this project together. Well done, Lucas! A super game :)

[kristine]

how neat!

we love clue, wildcraft and chess around here.